Rotary drilling apparatus



April 16, 1929- c. w. HERRIN ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS Fild 'July e,1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l n. om 6 we. iw WH W M 4W. .d a 2 @Nz a w 686 0 4.s 6 22523 a i @if m @fg A L@ b i m7 .f 5 n 4%@ wm Mmu e f .rgjw/ April16, 1929.

` C. W. HERRIN ROTARY DR ILLI NG APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1925 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Cha TZey 'lll/T Hernz'n ffm @Romania Q April 16, 1929. C,W- HERRN 1,o9,074

ROTARY DRILLING APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1925 a sneerswsheet 5 attenua/13Patented Apr. 16, 1929. y i i' unirse STATES PATENT orifice.N

CHARLES W. HERRIN, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

ROTARY DR-ILLING APPARATUS.

Application filed July 6, 1925. Serial No. 41,660.

My invention relates to` rotary drilling Fig. 12 is a plan view ot saidinternal apparatus oi the type disclosed by my `co` nut. y ifiendinp;application tiled November 12, 1924-, Fig. 13 is a side elevation of atubular dog;n Serial lilo. llfllll, now Patent No. 1,56%- carryingineinber which coacts with the nuts i-lill, issued November 2s, 1925.The presdisclosed by Figs. 10 to 12, inclusive. Go ont invention diliersfrom the one disclosed Fig. lfl is a plan view ol the parts disin saidcopending application in the mechA closed by Fig. 13. Y anisin toradjusting the bits to active and Fig. `15 isl a detail side elevationoi? a inactive positions and in cooperating eleplunger constituting a.portion of the elevavator inechanisrnv whereby the sleeve carrytormechanism. 65 ing said bits may be raised or lowered upon Fig. 16 is adetail side elevation ol' a tu the drill stem. bular element which inpractice is mounted in ln order that the invention may be fully theupper end of the sleeve and adapted to understood, reference will now behad to be engaged by the elevator mechanism when the accon'ipanying`diuwinpgs,l in which: the sleeve is to be raised or lowered upon 70 1 isa vertical section of the apparathe drill stein. tus showingT the sleevebeing lowered to ac-` Fig. 17 is a detail vertical section of the tiveposition upon the drill stein. sleeve.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation7 partly in see- .Fig 18 is an enlarged crosssection online tion, et the apparatus ready to release the 18--18 ofFig. 1. 75

sleeve Ytroni the drill stein so that said sleeve Fig. 19 is a crosssection on line 19-19 may be elevated to the surface with the bits. ofFig. 7.

Fig. 3 is a view somewhat similar to Fig. Fig. 2O is a cross section online 20.20 of 9. with the elevator mechanism in position Fi 8. 'forlifting the sleeve and the bits to the sur- Fig. 21 is a reducedirregular cross sec- 80 tace. tion on line 2.121 of Fig. 7 with thesleeve Fig. 4L shows the sleeve and the bits in removed. drillingposition; the elevator mechanism F ig. 22 isa broken detail perspectiveof having been removed. y the lower portion of the drill stem and a Fig.5 is an enlarged vertical section of chuck fixed thereon. i e5 the upperportion ol' the apparatus with the Referring now more particularly tothe elevator mechanism being lowered preparasleeve and the partsintimately associated tory to lifting' the sleeve with the bits 'fromtherewith, 2 designates the rotary drill stein the well. which is madeup of sections united by Fig. G shows the parts disclosed by Fig.couplings 4l, the .sections being added :from on 5 in the position whichthey assume after the time to time the well is bored out. sleeve hasbeen lowered to operative position 6 designates the sleeve which isremovand the elevator mechanism is ready to be `ably mounted on thestein 2 with which it is lilted trom the well. Y caused to rotate whenin operative position Fig. 7 shows a broken vertical section oil` bydiaineti'ieally opposed feathers 8, which 95 the lower portion oli themechanism with the lit in corresponding loiigritudinal grooves bitsabout to Contact the inclined segmental 10 arranged internally withinthe sleeve 6 guides whereby said bits are directed into and provided attheir lower ends with liaractive engagement with the chuck at the ing`mouths 12 whereby said grooves are lower' end el the drill stein. causedto register with the leathers 8 when 10o Fig. 8 is a view similar toFig. 7, exceptthe sleeve 6 is being lowered to active posi im;1 that thebit-s have been lowered into action.

tive engagement with the chuck. y The sleeve 6 provided adjacent to itsFig. 9 is a cross section, slightly reduced, lower end with a pair o'lbits 141 which are on line Sl-el oit. Fig. 5. y provided at their upperends with pivots 1G 105 Fig. 1() is a side elevation ot a nuttorinmounted in the sleeve 6. The pivots 1G are inga part ol theelevator mechanism. threaded at their upper ends and provided Fifa. 11is a side elevation ot an internal with nuts 18 which loosely rest uponthe nut which is adJustable in the nut disclosed lower walls of therecesses 20 termed in the by Fig.. 10. sleeve (l to receive said nuts.The recesses lio lOV 'to permit the bitsr14 to describe approximately aquarter of a revolution when turning from inactive position disclosed byFig. 7, tothe activel position disclosed by Fig. 8.

Vand viceversa. VThe bits 14 are prevented from turningfar enough ontheir pivots 16 to get out of proper relation with the asso ei'atemechanism by stops 28 which project upwardlyfrom said `bits 14 intogrooves 30 communieatingwith the lower end of the bore of the sleeve 6.

A 32 designates a 'chuck Xe'd to the lower endv of the drill stem 2 forthe purpose of locking thebits 14'inactive position, slicwn 'parts 35 bythe slots 34. Each by -Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 8. Said chuck32 is provvidedwith diametric'ally opposed slots 34 into which the bits 14 are directedas they are lowered frointhe position disclosed by Fig. 7 to thatdisclosedby Fig. 8, by a pair of segmental inclined guides 36 formed atthe upper portion of'said chuck V32. The upper portion of the chuck 32is reduced in diameterto freely enter the lower end of the sleeve ,6 andis divided into two segmental segmental part tapers downwardly at' oneend as indicated at 37 to clear the lower ends of the bits'14 as theymove downwardly upon the inclined guides 36 formed intheV opposite endsof said segmental parts 35. On entering the slots 34 in 'which theysnugly fit. the bits 14 Vare held from spreading apartby integral ribs38 which fit within corresponding grooves 40 formed in the chuck andVcommunicating with slots 34, F 19 and 20. In order that the bits 14 mayturn with atheir pivots 16 from the position shown by Figs. 7,19 and 21tot-he position best disclosed by Figs. 8 and 20, the lower portion l 7to thatdisclosed by Fig. 8,.diametrica of the drill stem 2 is providedwith oppositely disposed longitudinal recesses 42 and 44, Figs. 1, 7, 8,19, 20 and 22.

The upper endsorA 4therrecesscs 42 and 44 arerbeveled as indicated at 46and 48, respectively, so that: when Jthe sleeve 6 is yraised to releasethe Vbits 14 from the chuck 32the inner upper corners of said bits 14"will contact said' beveled ends 46 and 48 and be adjusted thereby toinactive position, Fig. 7, so that they may pass upwardly at oppositesides of the drill stem. lVhen the sleeve 6 is loweredfrom the positionvshown by F I opposed tongues 50 atits lowerend enter A.'correspondingrecesses 52 in the chuck 32 to form a coupling which coacts with thefeathers 8 in driving the sleeve (3 and the bits 14 when the drill stern2 is rotated.

Duets 33 extend from the tubular portion 35 of the drill stem 2 to thelower portion of the chuck 32 for the purpose of discluirgingy waterforced dmvnwardly through said drill stem to flush out the cuttings fromthe wcll. The upper portion of the sleeve, 6 is provided with aplurality of pivotally mounted internal dogs 54 adapted to engage aperipheral shoulder 56 formed on the drill stem 2 by cutting therein atapered annular recess 58.

The upper end of the sleeve 6 has a rcmovable cap 60 with an axial borein which a tubular element 62 has a slidable fit. The lower end of thetubular clement (l2 is provided with an annular clamp 64 adapted toengage over the upper ends of the dogs 54, Fig. 2, to hold them inengagement with the shoulder 56 and thereby prevent the sleeve 6 frommoving upwardly on the drill stcm 2 when the apparatus is in thcdrilling position disclosed by Fig. 4.

The upper portion of the tubular clement 62 is vprovided with spacedcollars 66 und 68 for engagement. by dogs 7U forming )art of theelevator mechanism 7 The dogs 7() are pivotally mounted on a ring 72slidably mounted within a tubular jacket 74. Independent downwardmovement of the 1ing 72 is limited by a pin 76, which projects inwardlyfrom the jacket 74 into a peripheral groove 78 in said ring.

The upper portion 80 of the ring 72 is reduced to slidably fit withinthe lower portion of a nut S2, the sliding movement be- Ving restrictedby a pin e4 projecting from the ring 72 into a slot 86 within said nut82. The nut- 82 has a sliding fit in the jacket 74 and is provided atits lower margin with recesses 88 to receive thc upper ends of the dogs7() when in the position disclosed by Fiijgs. 1 and 5. The nut 82 hasthreaded therein an internal nut 90, which when adjusted upwardlypermits the upper ends of the dogs to pass inside of said nut 82 and l elocked thereby in inactive position as disclosed by Fig. 6.

The nut 82 is sli( ably mounted upon the intermediate portion of avplunger 92, but caused to rotate therewith through the interinediaey ofgroove and feather connections 94. The plunger 92 has a slidable fitupon the drill stein 2 and within the ring 72, and is provided at apoint above the nut 82 with a. collar 96 which limits the slidablemovement of the plunger 92 by contacting the top of the nut 82 or thebottom of a cap 98 threaded into the upper end of the jacket 7 4 andhaving an axial bore through which the plunger 92 slidably extends. Theupper end of the plunger 92 is provided with suitable means such as eyes100 to which the lower' ends of a cable 103 are attached for the purposeot raising and lowering the elevator mechanism 73, together with thesleeve 6 whenever the same is coupled to said elevator mechanism. Thecable 103 may run over a sheave (not shown) at the surface.

In practice when starting to drill a well the drill stem 2 is equippedwiththe sleeve 6 and the bits 14, the elevator' mechanism being omitted.As the work progresses andthe bits 14 become dull and requiresharpening, they, with the sleeve 6, `are lifted to the surface by theelevator mechanism 73 which lowered. on the drill stem 2 for thatpurpose. Before lowering the elevator mechanism the nut 82 is adjustedupwardly so that the upper ends ofthe recesses 88 will just clear the`upper ends of the dogs 70, Figs. 1 and 5, `leaving the same to movet'reely on their pivots 71. The internal nut 90 is then adjusted to itslowermost position against the top` of the ring 72 by rotating theplunger 92, to prevent the nut 82 from dropping behind the upper ends ofthe dogs and locking them in inactive position as shown by Fig. 6. Afterthe foregoing adjustments have been made the elevatorV mechanism 7 3 islowered by the cable 103 until the jacket 7'4 rests upon the cap 60,which is a signal to the workmen that the elevator mechanism ready to belifted to the surlfacc. As` the elevator mechanism 73 is lifted with thedogs 70 resting on the `beveled llange at the lower end of the jacket74, said flange forces the lower ends of said dogs 70 into engagementwith the under side o'l the collar 66, Fig. 2, of the tubular element62, which, on being lifted by the `dogs 70, lifts the sleeve 6 throughthe intermediacy of the Y clamp 64 which is lifted into engagement withthe underside ol' the cap 60, Fig. 3. rlhe upward movement of the clamp64 trees the dogs 54s() that they can slide out ot engagement with thebeveled shoulder 56 to the position shown by Fig. 1, as the sleeve 6moves upwardly with the elevator mech# anism 73. As the sleeve 6 movesupwardly he bits 14 are turned approximately a quarter of a revolutionfrom the position shown by Figs. 8 and 20, to the position disclosed byFigs. 7 and 19, by the upperends of said bits contacting the beveledends 46 and 48` of the recesses 42 and 44, respectively.

lrlhen turnedas stated, the bits 14 are free to move upwardly withoutimpinging against the drill stem2 On reaching the surface the bits 14are removed from the sleeve V6 `and resharpened `or replaced by others.

Preparatory to again lowering the sleeve 6 and the bits 14 into thewell, the tubular element 62 is pulled upwardly out of saidv sleeveuntil the bottom of the collar 68 passes above the hook ends 77 of thedogs 70, which are forced upwardly and backwardly out of `and 68contacting the beveled portions 70:L

at the lower ends of said dogs 70. After the collar 68 passes above thehook ends 77 of the dogs 70 the latter move downwardly by the force ofgravity and the beveled 'flange 75 forces said hook ends 77 against thetubular element 62 at a point beneath the collar 68, as shown by Fig. 1,the acket 74 being supported by its cap 98 resting upon the collar 96 ofthe plunger 92 as shown by Figs. 1 and 5. The internal nut 90 is thenscrewed upwardly above the upper ends of the dogs 70 and the ring 72until it contacts with the internal flange 83 at the upper end olf `thenut 82, by rotating the jacket 74 while the plunger 92 is heldstationary. The cable 103 is then lowered with the elevator mechanism73, the sleeve 6 and the bits 14, while the drill stem 2 is suspendedwith its chuck 32 high enough from the bottom of the well to permitthe,` bits 14 to clear said bottom ,while being turned by the guides 36from the inactive position disclosed by Fig. 7, to the active positiondisclosed by Fig. 8. The sleeve 6 isV guided by the feathers 8 andgrooves 10 into position upon the chuck 32 and in turn directs the bits14 into proper relation with the guides 36. The drill stem 2 with thesleeve 6 andthe elevator mechanism 73, are then sinuilltaneously lowereduntil the bits 14 rest upon and are supported bythe bottom oli` thewell. The tubular element 62 and the elevator mechanism 7 3 continuetheir downward movement, permitting the beveled lower ends of thedogs 70to engage the beveled upper reduced terminal 6l of the cap 60 whichthrows said dogs 70 out of engagement with the collar 68,

Ashown by Fig. 6. J ust `as the dogs 70 are larclamp 64 engages over thedogs 54 and holds them in locked engagement with the shoulder 56. As theplunger 92 forces the tubular element 62downwardly the `diametricallyreduced portion 97 of the collar 96 impinges against the upper end ofthe inter-nal nut 90,` forcing the same downwardly so that rit in turnwill carry the nut 82 downwardly behind the upper ends ofthe dogs 7 0and thus lock said dogs in the inactive position disclosed by Fig. 6.The elevator mechanism 73 is now ready to be lifted to the surfacewithout the sleeve 6 as the dogs 7() areheldin position by the nutj82 toclear the collars 66and 68. c

From the foregoing description, taken inl connection with the drawings,it isapparent that I have provided an apparatus embody# ing theadvantages above pointed out, and

while I haveV shown the preferred construction, combination andarrangement of parts, Ireserve the right to all such modificationsthereof `as' properly fall Within. the spirit Vand scope of theinvention as claimed.

' position, and means on the drill stem for Y i sition.

securing the bits in active position.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a sleevecapable of being raised and lowered on: said drill stem whilerthe same1s 1n lowered position 1n a well, la drillingvtool carrledby saldsleeve,

pivotedmeansfor securing said sleeve from moving upwardly on they drillstem, Vand clampmeans slidably mounted in the sleeve for holding saidpivoted means-in active po- 3. In anlapparatus of the character de-Vscribed, a drill stem, fa sleeve removably mounted'on said drill stem, adrilling tool carried by said sleeve, dogs for securing said sleeveagainst upward movement on the drill stem, clamp means operablymounted1n the l upper portion of the sleeve for holding said dogs in activeposition, and means controlled froml the top ofthe Well for disengagingsaid .clamp means from the dogs.,

it;Y In an apparatusof the character described, adrill stem providedwith a shoul- V der,1a;, sleeve mounted for vertical movement on saiddrill stem, a drilling `tool carried byv said sleeve, dogs carried bythe sleeve to vreleasably engage thev shoulder-on the drill stemlsoxthat saidsleeve can be lifted independently of said drill stem', andmeans for4 locking'the dogs in engagement with said u shoulder andthereby securing the sleeve upon the drill stem.

p5, In .an apparatusof the character described, adrill stem providedwith a'shoulder, a sleeve mountedfor vertical movement y on said drillstem, ya drilling tool carried by saidsleeveVdogsrcarried by the sleeveto releasably' engage the shoulder on the drill vstem so that saidsleeve can be liftedindependentlyof said drill stem, and an annularclamp for positively locking the dogs in Y engagement with saidshoulderand thereby securing the sleeve to the drillstem.

V6,:In an apparatus of the character` described, a drill stem providedwithfa shoul- 1 der, asleeveimounted for vertical movement onV saiddrill stem, `a drilling tool carried by said sleeve, gdofgs v carried bythe, sleeve,V to

releasably engage the shoulder on the drill stem so that said sleeve canbe lifted independently of said drill stem, means for positively lockingthe dogs in engagement with said shoulder and thereby securin the sleeveto the drill stem, and elevator mec mnism for releasing said lock meansfrom the dogs.

7. In an apparatus of the character dcscribed, a drill stem, a sleeveremovably mounted on said drill stem, a drilling tool carried by saidsleeve, a dog for securing said drill stem and sleeve together, anelement associated with said sleeve to hold said dog in active position,and elevator mechanism for disengaging said clement from the dog andraising and lowering the sleeve independently of the drill stem.

8. In an ajjiparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a memberarranged for independent vertical movement upon, said drill stem, adrilling tool carried by said member, means for locking said member uponthe drill stem, a dog for unlocking said locking means and raising andlowering said member, means for adjusting said dog to active position sothat it may raise or lower said nicmber, means for adjusting the dog torelease position so that it ma be lifted without said member, and meansor holding said dog in released position.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a memberarranged to slip on and off. of said drill stem, a drilling tool carriedby said member, a dog for raising and loweringtsaid member, a flange foradjusting said dog to active position, and means on the member carryingthe drillingr tool for vadjusting the dog to release position.

10, In an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a memberarranged for vertical movement upon said drill stem, a. drilling toolcarried by said member, means Vfor locking said member upon said drillstem, a dog for releasing said locking means and raising and loweringsaid member, a ring extending around the drill stem and carrying saiddog, a jacket for adjusting said dog to active position and in whichsaid ring is mounted` and means for raising and lowering said jacket.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a memberarranged for vertical movement upon said drill stem, a bit carried bysaid member, means for locking said member upon the drill stem, a dogfor releasing said locking means and raising and lowering said member, ajacket for adjusting said dog to active position, and means carried bysaid jacket for holding said dogr in released position to permit thejacket to be lifted independently of said member.

, 12. In an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a memberarranged to slip on and off of said drill stem, bits carried by saidmember, a dog for raising and lowering said member, a jacket loradjusting said dog to active position, a cable for raising and loweringsaid jacket, means carried by said jacket 'for holding said dog inreleased position to permit the jacket to be lifted independently ofsaid member, and a plunger sli dably mounted on the drill stem torcausing the last-mentioned means to ac-I tively engage said dog.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, a sleeve, bits turnablymounted at the lower portion of said sleeve, a drill stem on which saidsleeve is slidably mounted, said drill stem having oppositely disposedrecesses with beveled upper ends whereby the bits are turned to clearthe drill stem when the sleeve is raised, and means at the lower portionof the drill stem lor turning and locking the bits in drilling positionwhen the sleeve is lowered.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a sleeveslidably mounted upon said drill stem, a pair oi' l'lat rectangular bitsturnably mounted at the lower portion of said sleeve and provided withlongitudinal ribs, and interlocking means on the lower portion of thedrill stem for locking the bits in drilling position and provided withgrooves for receiving said ribs.

15. ln an `apparatus ot' the character described, a drill stem, a sleeveslidably mounted on said drill stem, a drilling tool carried by saidsleeve, a dog lor preventing said sleeve from sliding upon said drillstern, a tubular element slidably mounted in and projecting from theupper end or the sleeve and adapted to hold said dog in active position,and means for disengaging said tubular element from the dog and liftingsaid clement and the sleeve on the drill stem.

16. ln an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a sleeveslidably mounted on said drill stem, a drilling tool carried by saidsleeve, a cap at the upper" end et said sleeve, a dog for securing thesleeve to the drill stem, a tubular slidable element projecting throughsaid cap and provided with clamp means for holding said dog in activeposition, and mechanism including a dog `for engaging said tubularelement and through the intermediacy thereof raise and lower the sleeve,the dog on said mechanism being disengaged by said cap from the tubularelement after the sleeve has been lowered.

17. In an apparatus ot the character described, a drill stem, a sleeveslidably mounted onsaid drill stem, a drilling tool carried by saidsleeve, a dog for engaging the drill stem and preventing said sleevelrom sliding upwardly on said drill stem, a tubular clementslidablymounted in and projecting from the upper-end of the sleeve andadapted to hold said dog in active position, elevator 'mechanismconsisting or' means :tor engaging said tubular element and through theintermediacy tliereoit' raising and lowering the sleeve, and a jackethaving a liange for forcing said means into engagement with the tubularelement.

i8. ln an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem, a memberarranged for independent vertical movement Vupon said drill stem, adrilling tool carried by said member, means for securing said memberupon the drill stem, dogs for unlocking said securing means and raisingand lowering said member independently of the drill stem, means foradjusting said dogs to aetive position preparatory to lifting saidmember, and means on the member lor adjusting said dogs to releaseposition so that the same can be lifted independently of said member.

19. ln an apparatus of the character described, a drill stem providedwith a shoulder, a sleeve mounted for vertical movement on said drillstem, a drilling tool carried by said sleeve, dogs carried by theVsleeve to releasably engage the shoulder on the drill stein so that saidsleeve can be lifted independently ol said drill stein, a tubularelement vertically slidable in the upper portion oit the sleeve andadapted to lock said. dogs in engagement with the shoulder on the drillstem, two superimposed collars spaced apart upon said tubular element,elevator` mechanism adapted to engage the lower collar and lower thedrilling mechanism into a well and engage the upper collar and raise thedrilling mechanism from the well, and means on the upper end of thesleeve for disengaging the elevator mechanism from said lower collarafter the drilling mochanism has reached the bottoni oit the well.

ln testimony whereof I allix my signature.

CHARLES W1 HEREIN.

